By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Last month’s health and well-being blog focused on adopting a whole-person mindset that positively impacts athletic performance. The Wellness Compass tool was shared as an easy-to-use method for assessing overall well-being. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the benefits of completing this resource and

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Senior Games athletes have impressive levels of physical fitness, particularly in aerobic fitness and balance. Research from the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) shows that Senior Games participants far exceed recommended levels of regular physical activity. Compared to the general population of older adults, they

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being During this season of gratitude, we are thankful for how Senior Games athletes demonstrate the power of sports—the power to unite, inspire and spark social change. Senior Games athletes inspire as they train and compete. They contribute to research on healthy aging so others can

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Older adults often experience ageism—being stereotyped or discriminated against in ways that negatively impact their health and well-being. In recognition of Ageism Awareness Day, the American Society on Aging (ASA) recently shared key findings on the impact of ageism: The Impact of Ageism Financial well-being:

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) states that neuromuscular training—alongside cardiorespiratory, resistance and flexibility exercise—is essential for maintaining health. A core component of neuromuscular training is balance, which is especially important for both sports performance and falls prevention in senior athletes. Good balance is

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being The Senior Games movement celebrates active aging, fosters social connection and empowers older adults by providing opportunities to engage in competitive sports. A key part of our health and well-being goals for the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana was to offer activities that

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being To compete well at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana, you need to be both physically and mentally prepared. With The Games starting July 24, your foundational training phase should ideally be complete, and you may be aiming for a personal record. But

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Health and well-being resources for athletes and the broader community will be available throughout the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Key highlights include the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE), Optimal Aging Day in Iowa health exchange, a tai chi skill-building workshop for athletes

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being May is Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” is the perfect way to describe what happens every time an athlete steps onto the field, track or court at the National Senior Games. Whether you’re sprinting, swimming or volunteering, you

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Something new is coming to the National Senior Games! The Mile for the Ages will debut on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Iowa State Capitol Grounds as part of the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. This age-friendly, intergenerational event invites athletes, friends,